Hay-carrier



(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 1.

L. Y. MYERS.

. HAY CARRIER.. No. 276,864. i Patented May 1,1888.

N. PETERS. Pmlwuthegnphn, wvl-3:53p, QC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

LEWIS Y. MYERS, OF CANTON, OHIO.

HAY-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 276,864, dated May 1,1883.

. Application tiled November 4, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS Y.MYERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay-Carriers, of whichthe following is a specitication, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention'relates to a hay-carrier ofthe class illustrated in myprevious Patent No. 243,600, dated June 28, 1881,*said carrier beingarranged to move back and forth upon a suspended rod, rail, or track,and being provided with automatic latches and stops, by which the loadedfork is at the proper moment locked in position upon the carrier andloosened therefrom. In my said patent a construction ot' carrier isshown in which the loaded fork is suspended from and supported by thesliding latch, while the carrier is moved back and forth upon the track.This method of supporting the load is, vunder some circumstances,inferior, and one of the purposes of the present invention is to providea means of supporting the load directly upon the main frame of thecarrier.

The'invention also relates to other matters, whichl will be hereinafterdescribed in detail.

Figure l is a side view of a carrier embodying my improved features.Fig. 2 is a side view, with one side piece of the frame removed toshowthe inner parts, the catch beinglocked.

A represents a rod, rail, or other suitable track, suspended in anypreferred way above the place where itis desired to deposit the hay, andadapted to have the carrier move thereon,

The carrier is constructed with some features similar to those shown inthe aforesaid patent; but in order to sct forth clearly the improvementswhich I have made I will briefly describe all the parts of lthe deviceherein shown.

The main frame consists of one or more pieces, B, there being,preferably, two of the same, which are best arranged whensubstantiallyparallel, there being suitable cross cou-l necting andtying pieces. The frame, however, may be more or less modified withoutdeparting materially from the essential parts of the invention.Preferably it is suspended upon two wheels or anti-friction rollers, b',situated so as to support the frame to best advantage.

c is a pulley or sheave over which, ordinarily, the hoisting-rope ispassed. Over this pulley it runs to the hoisting-fork at G', whichthereon the frame operates to hold the load that is being carried. Withthis ledge,shou1 der, or supporting device on the main frameI combinemeans for so guiding the swivel or eye that when it is being raised itshall come into proximity withsaid ledge, hook, shoulder,or supportingdevice, and in the construction shown said guidingl devices aresoconstructed and arranged that the eye orI swivel is brought to a pointsomewhat above the horizontal line or supporting ledge or shoulder. rlheguides consist of curved edges b. With these parts I also combine auautomatically-acting part, which can be caused to hold the carriagestationary while the load. is rising, which, secondly, can be rockedsoas to release the carriage after the load has been secured in place onthe latter, which, thirdly, can be caused to release the fork-holderfrom the ledge or notch on the main frame, and which can also assistinsecuring thc forkholder upon said ledge or notch. As shown, this partwhich performs or assists in performing these functions consists of abar, plate, or lever, O, arranged to automatically engage with a stop,i, by which stop it holds the carriage in position until the load hasbeen elevated, and by which it operates to 'release the fork-holder fromthe carriage or main frame. This part C is supported in such manner thatthe end which engages with the stop i can be oscillated or swung up anddown, the other end being arranged to be moved up by the fork-supportwhen the latter is rising. This part U is secured in place by one ormore pins, V

vas at h h', which provide a support for it more or less pivotal, aboutwhich the ends of `the part (J can oscillate sufficiently for thepurpose required. In the form of construction which I have shown thepart C not only has the os;

cillatingmotion above described, but also more or less of a longitudinalmovement. To allow this movement, the apertures through which the pin orpins h h pass are elongated and curved or made angular, as at m x. Thelever G is also provided with downwardly-extended projections,shoulders,pins,lugs,or hooksff, or equivalent devices. 'Ihe projection fis so related to the other parts that when the lever C strikes againstthe stopt' it (said partf') presses against the eye or bail ot theforkholder and throws it off from the supporting ledge or notch on themain frame.

In addition to the projection j", there is a projection or shoulder, f,which can he used to assist in guiding the fork-holder into properposition above the support or notch on the main frame, and when thelever 0 is caused to move longitudinally (as it does in the constructionshown) said part f can be caused (while going through its oscillatingand sliding movement) to give a positive pull, if necessary, upon theeye or bail of they fork-support. This part fneed not be of exactly theform shown-that is to say, the operative edge thereof may be more orless inclined relatively to the other parts without materially affectingits operations. t

The lever G is, at the outer end, notched or recessed, as at g2, one ofthe walls lg4 being adapted to engage with the outer side of the stopt', and provide a-positive lock for the carriage. Said part C has'alsolan inclined face or projection, g, which, by impinging against the stopt', is adapted to cause the projection or shoulderj" to disengage theeye or bail of the fork-support from the mainframe. The stop t' isadjustable upon the rod, rail, or track, so that the carrier can bestopped at any desired point.

G4 is an eye in the lever C, by means of which alrope is connectedtherewith, the rope running back over a pulley and carrying a weightwhich operates to return the carrier afterthe fork has been unloaded.rlhis weight also insures that the carrier shall be held properly whenstationary, and assists in holding the lever G in proper positionrelatively to the fork-support while the carrier is being moved.

However, the weight may be dispensed with, and the rope may be operatedby hand, if desired.

The operation of the device is as follows:

.The fork i's rst loaded with hay, and then a lifting action is exertedupon the rope e. rIhis raises the fork-support (the eye or bail()2 andits pulley) until it reaches vthe guiding devices at b, which compel thefork-support to come into proximity to the support ou the main frame,(the notch, shoulder, or ledge.) -After the forkholder has got above thenotch or shoulder it will move over the same, owing to the fact that theeye or bail C3, to which the rope is attached, is lower than the pulleyE; or, if the lateral movement of the fork-support does not result fromthis, the end of the lever G will operate to guide said eye or bail intoproper position above the notch or shoulder at B'. `While the eye orbail of the fork-support is rising it lifts up the end of the lever C,and correspondingly lowers the outer end, which is engaged with the stopz'. yI prefer, for some reasons, not to have this dropping of the end ofthe part (l so great as to entirely disengage it at first, (though thatcan be done, if desired) but rather wish to have a part of it remain inengagement for an instant longer, in order that it may pull the lever Uslightly longitudinally. When constructed and operating thus, as soon asthe pin h reaches the vertical part of the slot so the outer end oflever C makes a second dropping or swinging movement, bringing it farenough down to escape from stop i; but I do notwish to be limited to theexact form or movement in detail of this part of the machine. When alongitudinal movement of the lever (l is thus employed the partfcan becaused to pull the eye or bail of the fork-support over the shoulder ornotch at B. This latter operation, however, is not essential, as the eyeor bail of the fork-support will, under ordinary circumstances,automatically pass into position to rest upon the shoulder or notch.

It will be seen that the parts are so related that aftery the carriagebegins to move away with its load the eye or bail cannot escape readilyfrom the shoulder or notch onthe main frame, as it is surrounded by awall of metal formed partly by the main frame, and partly by the lever0,'and the latter can be held down to its place by the weight and cordattached to the eye (l1. The load is carried to the desired point anddropped, after which the carrier is returned by means of the rope andweight, or otherwise, until the part g strikes the stop t', whereupon amovement, partially oscillating and partially sliding, is given to thelever C, which compels the shoulder or projection f to lift or push thefork-holder off from the support on the main frame, so that the fork candrop for another load.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact form of the support upon themain frame, (represented at B,) nor to the rising and falling forkholderG2, nor to the exact shape of the parts g g', nor to the means offastening the lever C, as these parts may be varied somewhat/aud yetretain the features of my invention.

What I claim isl. In a hay-carrier, the combination of arising andfalling fork-holder, a sliding main frame provided with a support forthe forkholder, the movable projection or shoulder f', and means,substantially as described, for automatically causing said projection orshoulder to release the fork-holder from the support 0n the main frame.

2. In a hay-carrier, the combination of a risin g and fallingfork-holder, the main frame provided with a support for the fork-holder,a stop IOO IIO

secured to the rail or track, and a lever carried by the main frame, andwhich is adapted to have its outer end engage with said stop, and tohave said end swing downwardlyrelatively to said stop when the risingfork-holder strikes the other end, substantially as set forth.

3. In a haycarrier, the combination of a yrisingand falling fork-holder,the main frameprovided with a support for the fork-holder, the leverconstructed to form an inclosing-wall or closed eye around the bail ofthe fork-holder, and adapted to have attached to it a rope and weight,substantially as set forth.

4. In a hay-carrier, the combination of a rising and fallingfork-holder, the main frame provided with a support for the fork-holder,and with a rounded or curved wall adjacent to said support for guidingthe rising fork-holder into proximity to its support and the means forlifting the fork-holder, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a hay-carrier, the combination of a rising and fallingfork-holder, the main frame provided with a support for the fork-holder,the means for lifting the 4fork-holder, the means for automaticallyreleasing the fork holder from the support on the main frame, andtheguide which directs the fork-holder into prox imity to its support onthe main frame, substantially as described.

6. In a hay-carrier, the combination of a rising and fallingfork-holder,'the main frame provided with a supportrfor the forklholder,the rope for liftingthe forkholder, the guide which directsthefork-holder into proximity to its support on the main frame, thereleasing bar or plate C, provided with a projection or shoulder forengaging with thefork-holder, and means, substantially as described, forcausing said projection or shoulder to bear against the fork-holderandrelease it from its support on the main frame, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a hay-carrier, the combination ot'A a rising and fallingfork-holder, frame provided with the shoulder or ledge for supportingthe fork-holder, the hoisting-rope, the fork-pulley having an'ieye orswivel to engage with said shoulder on the main frame, the guide which,while the pulley eye or swivel is rising, guides it into proximity tosaid shoulder or ledge, the movable bar or plate G, the means whichautomatically move said bar or plate C, and the means for engaging itwith the pulley eye or swivel, substantially as set forth.

8.A In a hay-carrier, the combination ofa rising andfalling fork-holder,a sliding main frame provided Vwith a support forthe forka sliding mainholder, the movable hook or shoulder f, adapted to engage with thefork-holder, and means, substantially as described, for automaticallycausing said'hook or shoulderfto engage with the fork-holder and move ittoward the supporton the main frame, substantially as set forth.

9. In a hay-carrier, the combination of a rising and fallingfork-holder, a sliding main frame provided with a support for theforkholder, the plate or bar C, provided with projection or shoulder f'for releasing the forkholder and provided with the shoulders orprojections g g and the stop i, substantially as set forth. i

l0. Infra hay-carrier, the combination ofthe rising and fallingfork-holder, themain frame provided with a support for the fork-holder,the stop i, the bar or plate C, supported upon the main frame by a pinor pins which permit i it to oscillate, the means carried by said bar orplate C for engaging with and releasing the `fork-holder, and theprojections or shoulders g g', adapted to Astrike against the stop i andproduce a vibrating of the bar or plate U, substantially as set forth;

l1. In a hay-carrier, the combinationot' a rising and fallingfork-holder, the sliding main frame provided with a support for theforkholder, the stop i, the bar or plate U, having the projection g andthe eye or rope-fastening device C4 to receive a returning rope,substantially as set forth: l

`l2. The combination of the main frame, the rising and fallingfork-holder, andthe liftingrope connected to the frame attwo points-onelower than the other-to assist the fork-holder in moving longitudinallyrelativelyto the main frame toward its support on said frame, sub- 'jstantially as set forth..

13. In a hay-carrier, the combination of a rising and fallingforkholder, the main framev provided with a support for the fork-holder,thestop upon the rail or track, and a catchlever having a `notch at itsouter end to engage with the said stop to hold the main framestationary, and provided with `a projection which engages with said stopprior to the en'- gagement of the notch therewith, for the purpose ofproducing said engagement between the notch and stop.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS Y. MYERS.

Witnesses:

JACOB P. FAWoE'r'r, HENRY FISHER.

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